Himalayacetus is an extinct genus of carnivorous aquatic mammal of the family Ambulocetidae. The holotype was found in Himachal Pradesh, India, (31°00′N77°00′E / 31.0°N 77.0°E / 31.0; 77.0: paleocoordinates 3°30′N69°42′E / 3.5°N 69.7°E / 3.5; 69.7)[2] in what was the remnants of the ancient Tethys Ocean during the Early Eocene. This makes Himalayacetus the oldest archaeocete known, extending the fossil record of whales some 3.5 million years.[3]
Himalayacetus lived in the ancient coastline of the ancient Tethys Ocean before the Indian Plate had collided with the Cimmerian coast. Like Gandakasia, Himalayacetus is only known from a single jaw fragment, making comparisons to other ambulocetids difficult.[4]
^ abBajpai & Gingerich 1998.
^Kuthar Nala (Eocene of India) in the Paleobiology Database. Retrieved June 2013.
^Bajpai & Gingerich 1998, Abstract
^Thewissen, JGM. "Ambulocetidae: The First Coastal Whales". Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
Eocene. This makes Himalayacetus the oldest archaeocete known, extending the fossil record of whales some 3.5 million years. Himalayacetus lived in the ancient...
Ambulocetus natans. The other two genera in the family, Gandakasia and Himalayacetus, are known only from teeth and mandibular fragments. Retaining large...
Himalayacetus identified in 1998 and dated to 52.5 million years ago (predating the terrestrial pakicetids), though the exact dating of Himalayacetus...
Pakistan and India, the ambulocetids include the oldest known whale, Himalayacetus, which is believed to be 53.5 million years old, some 4 million years...
epoch. It probably caught its prey near rivers or streams. Just like Himalayacetus, Gandakasia is only known from a single jaw fragment, making comparisons...
global extinction of dinosaurs. However, these have been disputed. Himalayacetus subathuensis, the oldest-known whale fossil of the family Protocetidae...
2006 failed to find any in the Yangtze River. (Eocene) Ambulocetus Himalayacetus Gandakasia (Late Eocene) Tutcetus Perucetus Basilosaurinae Basilosaurus...
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